Installing Gentoo 2006 Linux on Dell Inspiron 6400

Summary:

Dell Inspiron 6400 WSXGA+ works well in Gentoo Linux kernel 2.6.17

Date posted : 14/07/2006

Last updated: 14/07/2006

Following a first try with Mandriva I don't get quite satisfaction indeed the vesa video driver not allow DRI rendering.
Too bad with a so powerfull computer.
Since someone said me that the matter was resolved with Gentoo, kernel 2.6.17,
Let's go to Gentoo, first time with the LiveCD
No sooner said than done, Gentoo is installing: Gentoo is a really good approach of Linux, in fact everything may be rebuild and is clearly explained.
Software "portage" is the main component, once you have understood "emerge" , you are on the speedway. Running on the Dell computer, compilations are quick (ccache using .)
Unfortunately future is dark, because I don't have anything else to do ! Everything is working ! Everything ? nearly !

3-etc-update you must consider carefully what the suggested update will do ....bad experience with udev!

4-auto-mount of external device like CDROM,UsbKey, the problem is not gentoo specific..
Supermount needs a kernel-patch, autofs ok to mount but how unmount ? , my choice is finaly "submount"
with a little icon in KDE and "nautilus" , because konqueror(kdeinit) don't release the device !!! bad bug !

5-Modus Operandi: My time is not countless !
I work with 2 system equal partitions, the first and a backup.
Sometimes, if OK of course, I copy the first on the backup and swap .
So,if crash, I ever can return at a previous checkpoint, without having to rebuild the whole system.
The magic command is "cp -ax / /backup", next update the new "fstab" , update MBR with "lilo" and you may swap ...

I noticed too that is is quite significant to have "ccache" enable with a good size (2Go).
So the compilation elapsed time will be strongly shortened.
To be cool, I take 10Go or more for system partition size .

Future

First , thank Gentoo team for a so nice going !

My next goal is to create a bootable DVD of my own system with all packages ready
so I can start or install a new machine in a few minutes
With Gentoo, it seems to be easy .

Contact

I hope that this page will help you . Please send additions and thoughtful comments to
jackyvuillemin@free.fr.